Fluid motor



A. SKOK FLUID MOTOR Sept. 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1950 INVENTOR. ALO/S 5/(0K.

A. SKOK FLUID MOTOR Sept. 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 12, 1950 INVENTOR. 4.40/5 5/\0/(,

A7'7'0fiA/EK A. SKOK FLUID MOTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 28, 1954 Filed May 12, 1950 Sept. 28, 1954 3 0 2,690,164

FLUID MOTOR.

Filed May 12. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,690,164 FLUID MOTOR Alos Skok, Pasadena, Calf.

ApplicationMay 12, 1950, Serial No; 161,547

2Claims. l v

This invention relates to a fluid motor and more particularly to a motor or engine that may be driven by an expansible fluid such as steam. The primary object of the invention is to efficiently and economically employ the expansive energy of an expansible fluid' and'convert it into useful energy.

Another object is to simplifythe construction of engines of the rotary type and hence facilitate the production thereof on an economicalbasis; A further object is to produce an engine which is compact and which will deliver a maximum of power per pound of weight and hence rendersuch engines adapted for use as portable power units.

The above and other objectsmay be*attained by employing this invention which embodies a casing having a circular cylindrical bore therein and parallel circular cylindricalchamberson opposite sides of the bore which open into the bore, a rotor mounted in the casing to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof, radial blades on the rotor which project outwardlytherefrom and move in a circular path which intersects thechambers, circular oylindrical members mounted in the chambers for rotation therein about the longitudinal axes thereof, said membersprojecting into the bore and contacting the periphery of the rotor, said members having*peripherally spaced longitudinal grooves therein for receiving the radial blades as the rotor rotates; means to admit an expansible fiuid into the-boreinthe space between a member on one side of=the axis thereof and a blade, and means to discharge expansible fiuid from the space on the sideof the axis of said member and another radial blade.

Other features include valves for directing the flow of expansible fiuid to one or the other side of the axis of a rotary member and to discharge expansible fluid from the opposite side of the axis of said rotary member thereby to control the direction of rotationof the rotorand rotary members. Still other features include means connected to the rotor and to the circular oylindrical members to cause said members to rotate as the rotor moves and means mounted in the casing to distribute lubrication to the moving parts.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal -sectionalview of an engine constructed in accordance withthis in-., vention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectionalview taken substantially alongthe line 2.2:0f Figure-.1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectionalview taken substantially. along the: line .:33 of :'Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 taken substantially along the line 4-4of Figure l;

Figure 5' is atransverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figurel;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is atransverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 1'I of Figure l;

Figure 8 isa longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is atransverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of Figure l:

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially alongthe line l0l0 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line of llll of Figure 1 which has been disto-rtedto show certain passages through the engine; and

Figure 12 is a front view in elevation of the engine disclosed in Figure 1.

Referring tothe drawings in detail a casing designated generally IO is provided with an axial bore l l and parallel circular cy1indrical chambers l2 and I3which lieon opposite sides of said bore l l and open thereinto as will be readily understood uponreference to Figure 9. The casing o is also provided adjacent the chamber l2 with apair of spaced parallel passages M and I5 and adjacent the chamber l3 with spaced parallel passages l6 and l1. Formed in opposite ends of the casing in diametrically spaced relation to the chamber l2 are relatively shallow grooves l8 and [8a and l9 and [9a and similar grooves 20 and 20a and 24 and 21a are formed in the casing m in diametrically spacedrelation to the chamber l3. These grooves form ports which are in constant communication with the bore I l Passages 22 and 23 are formed in the casing 10 and communicatewith adjacent grooves l8, and [8a and IS and 9a respectively and similar passages 24 and 25-extend through the casing and communicaterespectively with the grooves 20 and 20a and 2land 2 la.

Closing the ends ofthe bore ll and chambers I 2:and l 3"at one end of the casing is a head or cover:plate 26'carrying a boss 21having an opening 28 extending therethrough which aligns axially withthe bore ll.- Formed in the inner side of:the cover plate 26 in spaced parallel relationto the opening 28 arerecesses 29 and3il which align axially with the chambers l2 and 13 respectively. The cover plateis also provided withsubstantiallyU-shapedpassages 31 and 32V which communieate respectively with thepassages l4 and IS through diametricallyspaced ports 33 and 3 l with the chamber l2. Similar Ushaped passages 35 and 362 are formed in the cover plate 255 and communicate respectively with the passages ls and il in the casing le and with ports 3'l and 33 which open into the chamber E3 in diametrically spaced relation.

A gear case designated generally 39 is carried by the end of the casing e remote from the cover plate 26 and comprises an end wall iEl, and a peripheral wall ll. The end wall it is formed with spacecl parallel openings l2, lt; and i iextending therethrough which lle respectively in axial alignment with the opening 23 and recesses and in the cover plate 28. The gear case 39 has extending therethrough in spaced parallel relation to the openings l2, 43 and M, spaced passages 635 and lt which communicate respec tively with the passages i l and l in the caeing iii, and similar passages l'l and ill which com municate respectively with the passages i6 ll in the casing lll. Extending through the gear case 39 in spaced relation to the opening l2 are passages 39 and El! which open into the recesces 22 and 2.3 respectively and passages 5| and 552 which open respectively into the recesses 2 l and 25. Formed in the end wall 40 of the gear casing 39 are passages 53 and 5 i which establish cornmunication between the passages l5 and 45 and diametrically spaced ports 55 and 56 respectivel;v which open in diametrically spaced relation into the chamber i2. Similar passages 51 and 53 aro formed in said end wall lll and establish oozn munication between the passages and 28 and diametrically spaced ports 58' and 59 which open in diametrically spaced relation into the chamber E3. The ports 55 and 55 align axially with the ports 33 and 34, respectively, and the ports 5B and 5: align axially with the ports 3'! and 38, respectively.

Fixed to the end of the gear case 39 remote from the casing a is a valve housing designated generally ii which is provided in its end remote from the gear case with conical valve Chambers til and 52 which align axially with the chambers IZ and 53 respectively in casing ill. eating with the valve chamber El at spaced points are passages 52' and 53 which extend through the end of the valve housing fi!l adjacent the gear case 33 and open respectively into the passages 2-5 and 45 therein. Similar passages 64 and 55 are formed in the valve housing 60 and communicate at spaced points with the valve chamber 62 therein and like the passages 82 and 53 open through the end of the valve housing adjacent the gear case 39 to establish communication with the passages il and la in the gear case 39. Similar passages 66 and El communicate with the valve chamber Bi in circumferentially spaced relation and said passages 56 and Gli open through the end of the valve housing till adjacent the gear case 39 to establish communication with the passages ae and 58 in said gear case 39. Passages and 55 like the passages just described open in circumferentially spaced relation into the valve Chamber 52 and extend through the wall thereof adjacent the gear case 39 to establish communication respectively with the passages 51 and 52 therein. Formed in the valve housing 6!) perpendicular to the axes of the valve chambers ti and G2 and communicating at opposite ends with said charnhers is a discharge passage 'l' which communicates midway between the valve chambers Si and 62 with a discharge passage H This discharge passage ll extends through a boss 'l2 which is carried by said valve housing and pro- Communi jects outwardly thereirom midway between and in paralle1 relation to the axes of the chambers 61 and 62. Opening through opposite ends of the valve housing 63 and communicating respec tively with the chambers El and 52 diametricaliy opposite ends of the passage l'8 are inlet passages E3 and '.hl to the Outer ends of which is coupled an intake manifold 5. Extending through the valve housing 653 midway between the valve chambers lil and 62 and above the passage it? is an internally screw threaded opening la the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

The open ends of the valve chambers and li2 are respectively closed by plugs li and having respectively axial openings l'9 and 88 extending therethrough.

Extending through said openings la) and 8i are valve stems 8i and 82 Carrying at their respective inner ends conical valves 83 and the peripheries of which snugly fit the Walls of the conical valve chambers El and The valve i335 is formed on one side of the axis thereof with a passage 35 which communicates at opposite ends with peripherally spaced ports tlit and Ezi. Enter ing the valve 83 between the ports and 8l are circumferentially spaoed ports 88 and 539 which open into the passage 85. A passage extends through said valve 33 on the side of the axis thereof opposite the passage and said passage se communicates with peripherally spaced ports 91 and 92 and communicating with this passage 90 between the ports 91 and G2 are peripherally spaced ports ti i and 92'.

Like the valve 83 the valve 8 5 is provided on one side of its axis with a passage 83 which communicates at opposite ends with peripherallv spaced ports 9d and 95 between which are peripherally spaced ports 95 and el which conemunicate with the passage 93. A passage ex tends through the valve 3 3 to the side of the axis thereof opposite the passage 83 and communicates at opposite ends with circumferentially spaced ports 99 and me. Opening through said valve 8' l between the ports 953 and see are circumferentially spaced ports ill and l@2 which communicate with the passage Elt.

Carried on the outer ends of the valve stems 33 and 82 respectively are levers me and and pivotally coupled to said levers remote from the valve stems 8l and 82 is a link me by which the levers Hi3 and HM- are moved in unison to rotate their respective valves 83 and 3 l. A hand lover ll3 is pivotally mounted on the boss 12 and is pivotally coupled to the link lil5 midway between opposite ends thereof for moving said link and rotating the valves 88 and 8 in unison.

Mounted for rotation in the aligned openings 28 and l2 are trunnions lt? and !8 of a rotor which rotates about its axis in concentric relation to the bore H in the casing l and carried by the trunnion Hi7 which projects through the opening 23 is an axial extension lili to which is fixed in any conventional manner a pulley i i i or the like. Entering the trunnion me and extending therethrough and into the trunnion l@l is an axial b0re l l2 having longitudinally spaced radial bores l i3 and M communicating therewith. These bores H3 and Mi open through the sides of their respective trunnions l!l'l and and into the openings 28 and i2 respectively. The trunnion N38 and hence the bore i l2 terminates within the gear case 39 and keyed or otherwise secured to the trunnion 08 within the gear case 39 is a drive gear H5. Formed in the periphery of the rotor Hi9 are circumferentially spaced grooves which extend p arallel to the axis of the rotor and seated in said grooves are outwardly extending radial blades H6, lll and H8 which move in a circular path which intersects the chambers 2 and l3. These blades closely contact the walls of the bore Il and are securedin the bottoms of the grooves in the rotor Ill9 in any suitable manner.

Mounted for rotation in the recess 29 and extending through the aligned opening M is a shaft l 19 upon which is mounted a circular cylindrical member 129 which rotates in the chamber l2 in close contact with the walls thereof. This circular cylindrical member l2'0is provided in its periphery with diametrically spaced recesses l2l and l'22 which receive the blades l IG, I I! and I l8 as the rotor 03 is rotated. A drive pinion Ila is fixed to the shaft H9 within the gear case 39 and has meshing engagement with the gear H5 so that the member l2il will be positively driven by the rotor N59. when the parts are in a position where a blade H5, IE! or HS enters one of the recesses 2| or [22, the circular cylindrical member 120 is in periphera1 contact with the rotor 89. J ournaled in the recess 50 and in the aligning opening 44 is a shaft 123 which extends into the gear case 39 and has secured thereto within said gear case a drive pinion H5a which has meshing engagement with the drive gear l E5 so that the shaft |23 Will be rotated as the rotor m9 turns about its axis. Mounted on the shaft [23 to rotate therewith within the chamber l3 is a circular cylindrical member 25 which like the circular cylindrical member !Z is provided with diametrically opposite recesses l26 and I21 which receive the blades H6, H1 and H8 as the rotor I09 turns about its axis. Like the circular cylindrical member l2l3, the circular cylindrical member 25 has peripheral contact With the rotor except when a blade enters one of the recesses I or l2'l.

Threaded into the threaded opening lt in the valve casing 69 is one leg 23 of an L-shaped fitting designated generally 129 and opening through the end of the leg [38 is a relatively large bore 3J in which a piston designated generally l3l is mounted to reciprocate. A compression coil spring 532 is seated against the inner end of the bore l3ii and bears on the piston l3l to yieldingly urge it through the end of the bore li!!l and into contact with a cam track 33 carried by the gear I l 5 which slopes as illustrated in Figure 2, to cause the piston l3l to reciprocate against the efiort of the spring 32. The inner end of the bore i3li communicates with a bore [Se formed in the leg I of the fitting 29 which contains a spring actuated Valve lt6 which normally closes a fee-d duct 131 through which lubricant such as machine oil is fed to the bore l3il. The piston ISI comprises a body 33 having an axial bore 39 ente1ing one end and a radial bore MG adjacent th opposite end which establishes communication between the axial bore 39 and the interior of the gear case 3.9. Entering the end of the bore i353 remote from the radial bore Mil is' a plug I4l having an axial bore Hi2 extending therethrough. A spring pressed ball me. yieldingly seats against the inner end of the plug IM to close the bore l42 therein. It is to be understood that the spring actuating the ball l3i3 is of less power than the spring [32 which moves the piston l3l so that when the piston [3| moves under the influence of its spring [32 the ball 36 will move out of closing relation to the duct l3'l to allow fiuid to enter the bore 3D. Obviously With the bore [30 It is to be noted that except filledwith lubricant and thepiston l3l ..positively moved by the cam track l33.the ball M3 will be movediaway from its contact with the end of the plug l 4i and the fiuid.will be expelled through the radial.passage Mil into the interior of the gear case 39. It is manifestthat with the gear case filled with lubricant and with additional lubricant being injected thereinto by the action of the pis ton in the bore 138, lubricant will be forced into the bearings through the bore l i2 and the radial hores H3 and H4.

The parts are assembled with the cover plate il5closing the end of the casing lil having the grooves es, 63, 2' and 21 and the gear case 39 closing the opposite end of the casing lll having thegrooves i8a, Ita, 29a and 2la thereon with the fiange ii of the gear case 39 pr0jecting away from the casing Iii. The valve housing Si) closes the end of the gear case 39 remote from the casing lil. With the rotor Hi9 in place in the bore l l and the circular cylindrical members l2li and E25 in their respective chambers 12 and 3, the gear H5 is meshedwith the pinions H5a and H5?) to ro tate the circular cylindrical members l2ii and 125 in timed relation with the rotor Hi9 so that as a blade H5, H? or H8 approaches a chamber 52, it will enter one of the recesses i 2! and l22 in the circular cylindrical member l 263 and as one of the blades Mt, H7 or H8 approaches the chamber 3 it will enter one of the reoess'es l2t or l2'e in the circular cylindrical member 25.

When so assembled the passages 62', 63, 64 and 65 in the valve housing 6 open into the passage 35, 45, l'l'and i8 respectively in the gear case 39. The passages 35, ae, ll and 48 in the gear case in turn open into the passages Mi, l5, IE and H respectively in the casing lil, and the passage: l9 and 58 and 5 and 52 open into the passages 22 and 23 and 2 i and 25 respectively. The ends of the passages Ml and Hiadjacent the cover plate 26 open into the passages 3! and 32 respectively and hence with the chamber B2. at its end adjacent the cover plate 26 through the ports 33 and 34. It will thus be seen that fluid entering the passage through the port 89 in the valve 33 will pass through the passages 62', 45, M and 3 to enter the chamber l2 through port 33. Such iiuid will also flow through passa-ge 53 and port 55 into the chamber I 2 at the opposite end thereof. Entering said Chamber l2 through the ports li3and lii'a the fluid will flow into the chamber A in the bore l i from between the circular cylindrical member l2t and the blade Ml thus to exert its expansiva force on the walls of the chamber A and cause the blade lll to recede from the circular cylindrical member I2 and turn th rotor [89 in a clockwise direction when viewed as in Figure 3. Since the passage 530 in the valve 83 establishes communication between the discharge passage m and the passage 63 when the valve Sii is in the position shown in Figure 1, it will be evident that fiuid contained in the chamber B in the bore i i between the blade l l 3 and the circular cylindrical member may escape through the ports island i9a into the passage 5 through the passages 32 and 54 respectively in the cover plate ii in the gear case 39; from whence it enters the passage tt in said gear case 39through which it is conveyed to the passage 63 in the valve housing 6B and through the passage 9) and port 92 to the discharge passage lil. Simultaneously with the flow of fiuid through the chamber l2 as just described, fluid flowing from the manifold 15 enters the passage 93 in the valve 84 through the passage Mi and port 96 and is directed through the port 95 into the passage 65 from whenc it enters the passage 48 in the gear case 39 through which is conducted to the passage El in the casing lil. The fluicl. also flows through branch passage 58 to enter the chamber 13 through the port 59 when a recess 525 or l2'l in the cylindrical member 125 registers with said port 59. Flowing through the passage il the fiuid enters the passage G in the end plate 2tand is delivered through the port 38 into the chamber IS when a recess 126 or 527i registers therewith The fiuid flowing through the chamber l3 enters a chamber C formed in the bore li between the cylindrical member [25 and the blade H3 through the ports 2l and 2la to exert expansive force against the blade l G8. The spent fiuid in Chamber D formed in th bore ll between the blade l H and the circular cylindrical member E25 is expelled through the ports 243 and 2ta through passage 35 in the cover plate 26 and into the passage IS in the casing li]. Simultaneously the fiuid is also expelled through the port in the gear case 39 into the passage i! therein through the passage 5'l. The passage ill opens into the passage 64 in the valve casing With the passage in the valve a4 communicating through port 99 With the passage 64 and the port registering with the discharge passage id, it will be evident that the spent fiuid Will be discharged. Obviously by moving the hand lever [E36 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 12, the ports and G2 in the valve 33 will be closed but the ports 9! and el Will resper;tively communicate with the passages 66 and le While the ports 238 and Si register respectively with the pas sage '23 and the passage 633 thus introducing fiuid entering the passage l.i from the manifold E5 into the chamber 12 through passages 83, 56, l5, and 563 into the chamcer IZ so that it enters the bore li through ports l9 and 59a and the chamber B formed between the circular cylindrical member 528 and the blade i 8. Simultaneously the chamber A formed between the circular cylindrical member i253 and the blade lll! will be opened to the discharge passage lil through ports Si and 8a and passages Z3, Si! and til, port 92, passage 353 and port 9 i in the valve 83. Simultaneously with the movement of the valve 83 to bring the ports 81 and 38 into registry with the passages and l'3 respectively, the valve 84 will be rotated to bring the ports HH and l!32 into rogistry with the passages H! and 69 respectively the ports 35 and 9i into registry with the passages se and M respectively. Thus fluid from the passage M will enter the chamber D formed in the bore i i between the circular cylindrical member l2i and the blade Ill through passages 6 3, s3, lt, 35 and 5! and communication between the chamoer C, formed in the bore ll between the blade l iii and the circular cylindrical member 25, and the discharge passage 10 Will be established tinough passages 25, 52, 68 and ports Ml! and 102 in the valve ii a. Thus it Will be seen that by shif ing the hand lever 1936 from one position to the other, the rotor IG8 and hence the drive pulley i i l may be made to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

While in the foregoin there has been shown and described the preferred form of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventi0n as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a fiuid motor, an open sided casing having a central transverse bore and a pair of oppositely disposed cylindrical transverse hores extending parallel to and opening into the first bore, a cover plate closing one side of said casing, a gear case closing the other side of said casing and having its outer side open, cooperative rotary elements in said bores, trunnions carried by said elements in said oppositely disposed hores having bearing in said cover plate and the inner side of said gear case, other trunnions carried by the intermediate element projecting outwardly through said cover plate and the inner side of said gear case, intermeshing gears within said gear case mounted on the adjacent trunnions of said elements, said intermediate element having an axial bore extending through the same with its outer end terminating within the outer trunnion and its other end opening through the inner trunnion into said gear case, said axial bore having ducts opening radially therefrom at the points of bearing of said other trunnions in said end plate and the inner side of the gear case, a valve plate closing the open side of said gear case, a valve mechanism carried by said valve plate for controlling the operativa fluid for said elements, and a means operable from one of said gears for introducing a lubricant to said gear case for its distribution to the points of bearing of the trunnions of said in termediate element by way of the axial bore and said radial ducts.

2. The fluid motor as defined in claim 1, with th said means comprising an inlet connection with a source of lubricant supply opening through said valve plate for the discharge of the lubricant into said gear case, a piston slidable in said inlet connection, a Coil spring within said inlet connection urging said piston into partially projected state into said gear case, said piston having an axial bore opening through its outer end and communicating with a radial outlet passage at its inner end, a plug having an axial passage therethrough threaded into the open end of sai-d axial bore, a spring tensoned valve element within said axial bore and closing the latter passage in one position of said piston, and a cam track carried by the said one gear for actuating said piston to periodically cause the discharge of a replacement amount of the lubricant into said gear case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 273,916 Tverskoy Mar. 13, 1883 274,475 Forbes Mar. 2'7, 1883 274,476 Forbes Mar. 27, 1883 606,606 Unbehend June 28, 1898 832,549 Callihan Sept. 5, 1899 902,225 Friend Oct. .27, 1908 994,825 Dunbar June 13, 1911 

